Meet Colin Erdle. He owns Welch’s.

Well, not just Colin. There’s his dad Rich, his mom Sue, and someday maybe Colin’s own kids. And then there are more than 900 other farmer families like the Erdles. They own Welch’s, too.

Welch’s is a cooperative. There’s only one way to join: Grow Concord and Niagara grapes. Most Welch’s farmer families live on the land where they grow their grapes. Some have been on the same farm for as many as seven generations!

Our roots go pretty deep, too. In 1869, Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch pasteurized Concord grape juice to create a non-alcoholic alternative to wine for his church. In 1893, Welch’s Grape Juice became an American favorite at the World’s Fair in Chicago. And in 1923, Welch’s famous Concord Grape Jelly was introduced.

But the year 1952 is as important as any in our history: That’s when the farmers who grew grapes for Welch’s took ownership of the company and began operating it as a co-op.

Today, the farmer families behind Welch’s put hard work, know-how and love into growing grapes for our juices, jams, jellies and snacks. It makes a difference you can taste. Because it’s got to be good enough for our families to be good enough for yours.

Meet Our Farmer Families

When you’ve been farming for generations, you pick up a few good stories along the way.